Related Experiment Videos
[Intracranial calcifications--seizures--celiac disease: a case presentation].
G Della Cella1, C Beluschi, F Cipollina
1Divisione Pediatria, Ospedale di Chiavari (GE), Italia.
Summary
This case study highlights a boy with coeliac disease and seizure disorder. Intracranial calcifications and neurological symptoms improved with a gluten-free diet, emphasizing the link between coeliac disease and neurological conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion.
- Neurological manifestations can occur in coeliac disease, though less commonly.
- This case explores the complex interplay between coeliac disease and neurological symptoms in a pediatric patient.
Observation:
- A 4-year-old boy presented with seizures and fatty stools, leading to a coeliac disease diagnosis via jejunum biopsy.
- Neurological symptoms, including generalized convulsions, initially improved on a gluten-free diet.
- Intracranial calcifications, particularly in the occipital region, were identified via CT scans during follow-up.
Findings:
- Discontinuation of the gluten-free diet led to the recurrence of seizures.
- Low folic acid levels were noted when dietary adherence was poor.
- Neurological symptoms evolved from seizures to daily 'mind-failures' during puberty, persisting into adulthood.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering coeliac disease in children with unexplained neurological disorders.
- Intracranial calcifications may be a significant, though not fully understood, feature associated with coeliac disease.
- Long-term management requires vigilant dietary adherence and neurological monitoring for patients with coeliac disease and associated neurological complications.